Separable hinge with stop means



June 29, 1965 L. D. VAG! SEPARABLE HINGE WITH STOP MEANS Original FiledApril 27, 1960 INVENTOR. L 00/5 D. 1449/ b/ILSON, SETTLE C RA/G- ATTRNEYJ United States Patent 3,191,219 SEPARABLE HENGE WITH STOP MEANSLouis D. Vagi, 420 Sunningdale Drive, lnirster, Mich. Originalapplication Apr. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 25,146, now Patent No. 3,034,758.Divided and this application Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,355

1 =Claim. (Cl. 116-171) This invention relates to a connector mechanism,and more particularly to a connector mechanism adapted to join a firstelement having a generally cylindrical exterior surface with a secondelement having a generally cylindrical interior surface, and to a hingestructure embodying the above concept.

This application is a division of my co-pending application SerialNumber 25,146 filed April 27, 1960, now Patent No. 3,034,75 8.

Numerous arrangements have been proposed in the past for connectingtubular items to each other, such as curtain rods, vacuum cleaner wands,guide rails, porch rails, display rack elements, and other items.However, in general, the prior art structures have been characterized bya substantial amount of complexity, rendering them expensive tomanufacture. Such devices heretofore proposed have provided asubstantial amount of utility and service, yet for many installationsthe prior devices have been too expensive and complex for widestapplication. Thus, the lack of simplicity and economy of installationand removal, the lack of positive locking of the inter-connectedelements, and the lack of compatibility with a wide range of materialsand applications has substantially limited the application of the priorart devices.

Therefore, if a connector mechanism adapted to connect a first elementhaving an outer cylindrical surface with a second element having agenerally cylindrical inner surface could be provided of extremelysimplified and economical manufacture, many attachment problems nowconsidered infeasible Would be solved, and a definite step forward inthe art of joining items of generally tubular configuration would beprovided.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention toprovide a connector mechanism having novel features and simplicity ofconstruction, positive locking and ease of assembly and disassembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a more effective as wellas novel connector mechanism which has applicability in a greaterdiversity of applications.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector mechanismwhich can be incorporated with a wide variety of materials, such asaluminum, plastics and steel.

A more particular object is to provide a connector mechanism fortelescoping elements wherein the inner element has a generallycylindrical outer surface and wherein the outer element has a generallycylindrical inner surface, adapted to coact with each other.

A still more particular object of the invention is to provide aconnector mechanism for joining telescoping tubular members whereincoacting elements are provided on each of the members for interlockingto provide quick assembly and disassembly in a novel manner.

A still further object is to provide a novel hinge element utilizing afirst body having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a secondbody having a generally cylindrical inner surface for mutual cooperationand incorporating an interlock for restraining the hinge at a selectedportion of its movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a more broadly usableconnector mechanism having an internal connection with the outer deviceto be connected therewith, such that extensive external surfaces of theouter device are relatively freed of obstructions. This charac-3,l9l,2l9 Patented June 29, 1965 teristic is of particular advantage insuch installations as the formation of guide rails, the connection oftubular members to one another, and the like, and in such installationsa smooth, relatively obstruction-free surface is essential to properguiding and traversing of the cooperatmg components.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through one embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the invention as applied to the interlockedconnection of two telescoped tubes or ipe members;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view similar to FlGURE 1, but showing thetelescoped tubes in partially assembled relation;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View through a second embodiment of theinvention, with the components thereof in an interlocked condition;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing thecomponents in partially assembled relation;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view illustrating the invention as applied to ahinge structure; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View similar to FIGURE 5, showing the hingeelement rotated through a 90 arc.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

The embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, there isdisclosed an arrangement including an inner tube 6%) and an outer tube62. The inner tube is cut through at 64, and the portion thereofadjacent the cut is turned outwardly to form the detent 66.Additionally, the detent 66 extends out at a right angle to cut 64- sothat the portion 68 of the tube functions as a spring arm, as is moreapparent from FIG- URE 2.

The outer tube 62 is provided with a detent-reception opening '70, thearrangement being such that the inner tube may be rotated from itsFiGURE 2 position in the clockwise direction so as to cause the detent66 thereof to snap into the opening 70, as shown in FIGURE 1, by reasonof the spring action of arm 68.

The FIGURE 1 construction can be utilized for detachably, lockablyconnecting two tubes together such as two tubular sections utilized invacuum cleaner wands. Of course within the broader aspests of theinvention tubes and 62 could serve any useful purpose, as for exampletelescoping-omencontainer assemblies, elongated conduits, display rackpipe sections, porch rail sections, or various ornamental tubularproducts such as tubular furniture frameworks, etc.

The embodiments of FIGURES 3 and 4 The construction shown in FIGURE 3 issimilar in some respects to the FIGURE 1 construction, a point ofdifference however being that the detent 78 in the FIGURE 3 arrangementis carried on the female tube part 74 rather than on the male part 72.

The FIGURE 3 arrangement comprises an inner tube together as shown inFIGURE 3;

The connection between the tubes may be readily dis- I connected orbroken by a manual pull back on the finger lift portion 82 sufiicient totake the detent 78 out of opening 76. i s

The hinge embodiment of FIGURES and 6- FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate theinvention as applied to a hinge construction. The FIGURE 6 arrangement adiscussion of specific embodiments and applications.

detent 78tosn'ap intothe opening 76 for locking thetube s,

comprises a fixed frame, a portion of which iis shown at a I 112. Theframe defines a door opening at 114, which'is adapted to be opened andclosed by a door or closure 11 6. The closure is provided .with one ormore'arcuate extensions 118, each of which winds Within an arcuatesection 120 of a hinge-member 121 carried on frame limited by a shoulderat'119.

tiona Movement of the door to the open position may be However, itwillbe appreciated that the invention can be utilized in various modifiedforms, and that certain changes in construction and arrangement can beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the appended claim.

1 claim; V

" -A connector comprising a first-.hollow tubular member ofsemi-cylindrical transverse cross section extending substantially 270 inits circumferential extent todefine a pair of axially extending edgesspaced substantially 90 from each other,,a second hollow tubular membertelescopically received within said first tubular member. with the outersurface of said second member in face-to-face engagement with the innersurface of said first member, an outwardly projecting shoulder on saidsecond member engageable with one of said axially extending edges tolimit relative rotation of said members in one direction, .one of said,members having an axiallyextending recess therein, an integral radiallyprojecting detent on the other Installation of the door is effected byslipping extension In the FIGURE 6 open position a detent on exofsaid'members complementary in shape to said recess and .engageabletherein to define an end limit to relative rotation of said members inthe opposite direction, at least one of said members being constructedof a relatively stifi but resilient material to accommodateresilientlyopposed radial flexing of one of said other members toperjmit relative rotation ofthe telescoped members with said detentdisengaged from said recess, said detent being operable when engaged insaid recess'to locksaid members against rotation relativeto each other.

tension 118 seats within a recess or opening 124 in secshown in FIGURES1 through 6 various materials suchv as steels, aluminum and a widevariety of plastics can be utilized. Due to the design of thecooperating parts and the manner in which they cooper-ate it is possibleto construct the parts as relatively large diameter devices or asrelatively small diameter devices. As a result the invention hasapplication in a wide variety of fields, V

Relterences C ited by theExaminer UNITED. STATES PATENTS 1,269,764 6/18Weaver 16-142 1,355,548 10/20 Ferris 16-95 1,553,132. '9/25 Bertrand248-251 1,661,674 43/28 Osborn 2 -319 1,931,271 10/33 Simmons 16-1912,331,595" 10/43 Bush 16-140 5 2,658,233 11/53, Kimmel 16-172 2,852,8029/58 Seby, 16-171 8,034,758 5/62 Vagi 248-251 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,2114/30 Germany.

CARL W.TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SCHEEL'THOMAS F. CALLAGHAN,

, 7 Exami e 's,

